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As PresidentDonald Trumpsigned a defense spending bill, named in honor ofJohn McCain, he neglected to mention the Arizona senator even once.
“I want to thank our wonderful Vice President, Mike Pence, and say a special hello to the incredible patriots of Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division. Special people. Thank you,” Trump began his speech.
Though he also thanked Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik among others, Trump never named McCain — and even omitted his name from the title of the bill.
“I’m here today to sign our new defense bill into law and to pay tribute to the greatest soldiers in the history of the world: the United States Army,” the president said.
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That same day, McCain’s longtime aide Mark Saltertweeted, “For those asking did I expect Trump to be an a—— today. No more than I expected it to be Monday.”
Meanwhile, McCain released astatementon his website, choosing not to mention Trump’s snub.
“I’m proud the NDAA is now law & humbled Congress chose to designate it in my name. As Chairman of the Armed Services Cmte, I’ve found high purpose in service of a cause greater than self—the cause of our troops who defend America & all that she stands for,” he said.
McCain’s wife Cindy celebrated her husband on Twitter, writing, “I’m so proud of @SenJohnMcCain and his work on NDAA. Incredibly humbled at the naming of this after my husband.”
Trump and McCain’srelationshiphas been rocky these past few years.
Days after he announced the cancer diagnoses in 2017, McCainvoted againstthe Republican bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which angered Trump.
Most memorably in 2015, Trump accused the former Vietnam prisoner of war of not being a “hero”because he had been captured.
source: people.com
